Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 4

कामधेनुसैन्यप्रादुर्भावः

Kamadhenu’s Forces, Visvamitra’s Austerities, and Vasishta’s Wrath

Devanagari script

तैस्तैर्निषूदितं सर्वं विश्वामित्रस्य तत्क्षणात्।सपदातिगजं साश्वं सरथं रघुनन्दन।।1.55.4।।

Transliteration

tais tair niṣūditaṃ sarvaṃ viśvāmitrasya tatkṣaṇāt |

sapadātigajaṃ sāśvaṃ sarathaṃ raghunandana || 1.55.4 ||

Translation

O ligaya ng angkan ni Raghu, sa sandaling iyon, winasak ng mga puwersang iyon ang buong hukbo ni Viśvāmitra—mga kawal na lakad, mga elepante, mga kabayo, at mga karwahe—doon mismo.

Word by Word

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• taiḥ: by those (very ones)
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः (emphatic)

• niṣūditam: destroyed
• niṣūditam: Kriyā (क्रिया/कर्मणि-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niṣ + sūd (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘sarvam’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• sarvam: the entire (host)
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचनम्

• viśvāmitrasya: of Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• tat-kṣaṇāt: instantly
• tat-kṣaṇāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः (‘tat-kṣaṇāt’ = immediately/at that very moment); पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययवत्

• sa-padāti-gajam: with infantry and elephants
• sa-padāti-gajam: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय ‘with’) + padāti (प्रातिपदिक) + gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (padāti + gaja) ततः ‘sa-’ उपपदपूर्वक; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘sarvam’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• sa-aśvam: with horses
• sa-aśvam: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय ‘with’) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपदपूर्वक ‘sa-’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘sarvam’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• sa-ratham: with chariots
• sa-ratham: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय ‘with’) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपदपूर्वक ‘sa-’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘sarvam’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• raghu-nandana: O descendant/delight of Raghu
• raghu-nandana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘raghoḥ nandanaḥ’); पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

Context

O descendant of the Raghus, Viswamitra's army consisting of infantry, elephants, horses, chariots has been entirely destroyed by them instantly.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma (Raghunandana)
• Army (infantry, elephants, horses, chariots)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Power unsupported by righteousness collapses quickly. The verse teaches that Dharma-protected spiritual authority can overcome mere military strength when the latter is driven by greed or arrogance.

What is the narrative situation?

The defending forces annihilate Viśvāmitra’s full military formation immediately, marking a decisive turning point in the confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implicit virtue is the supremacy of disciplined spiritual power (tapas/tejas) aligned with rightful conduct, over raw coercive force.